TOKYO –

A potent Japanese entertainment firm tarnished by sexual assault allegations in opposition to its late founder appointed 1 of its stars as its new president Thursday soon after the prior main resigned and apologized for the abuse younger shoppers suffered around many years.

Julie Keiko Fujishima introduced she was stepping down as president of Johnny & Associates, the expertise company established by her late uncle, Johnny Kitagawa. She claimed the alleged sexual abuse experienced definitely occurred and that she would continue to be on the company’s board to see by a target compensation plan.

“This is what my uncle dedicated, and as a niece, I want to choose responsibility,” Fujishima explained solemnly.

Noriyuki Higashiyama, a member of a boy team referred to as Shonentai, said he was retiring as an actor and singer to come to be the new president of Johnny & Associates, a part that will include overseeing compensation for males who have been assaulted as young children.

“A horrendous crime has been dedicated,” Higashiyama instructed reporters at a Tokyo hotel, bowing deeply many times with Fujishima.

“It will just take time to get back trust, and I am placing my everyday living on the line for this exertion.”

A new firm composition, which will include an exterior compliance officer, will be declared upcoming month, Fujishima claimed.

At one particular position, she choked down tears, stressing the achievements of the singers and dancers that the expertise agency known as Johnny’s represented and promoted.

“I only sense deep gratitude to all the admirers,” she claimed.

Kitagawa had been so potent she, and lots of others, had held silent, she additional.

Through Thursday’s information meeting, Higashiyama right away fielded thoughts about allegations that he experienced engaged in bullying or sexually abusing other Johnny’s boys.

“Maybe I did it possibly I did not,” he mentioned.

He acknowledged he tended to be rigorous with youthful performers. He reported he merely could not bear in mind, as he might have carried out points as a teenager and in his 20s that he would not do now, at age 56.

The news conference was the very first because numerous men and women came ahead this yr, alleging they ended up sexually assaulted by Kitagawa.

Kitagawa was at the rear of dozens of well known boy bands in Japan, beginning in the 1960s. He died in 2019 and was hardly ever billed.

A 3-month investigation by a distinctive team set up by the organization announced that the long-rumored allegations ended up point.

The gentlemen who have arrive forward say Kitagawa raped, fondled and abused them in his Tokyo luxury mansion, as perfectly as other locations, these as his vehicle and abroad hotels, when executing as dancers and singers.

Lots of of the victims have been customers of a backup team referred to as Johnny’s Jr., who danced and sang at the rear of larger stars. A person man who arrived ahead lately mentioned he was routinely molested when Kitagawa experienced but to located his firm. He was just 8 a long time outdated.

9 males have formed a group demanding an apology and economic compensation from Johnny’s. They say they were raped by Kitagawa when they were being minors.

They had been delighted the firm apologized and promised payment, but some had reservations, although some others explained Higashiyama had not informed the total real truth.

“The wounds in my coronary heart will not heal,” Yukihiro Oshima informed reporters. “But I feel a minimal greater.”

Higashiyama denied he was a target. He reported Kitagawa had been like a father to him, while denouncing his functions as “the most pathetic in the history of humankind.”

When he identified out what Kitagawa had done, he felt as though he had shed almost everything, Higashiyama recalled.

“No matter whether I am experienced to acquire on this career, you be the judge,” he stated.

Individually, Guiness Environment Data reported it had stripped Kitagawa of all the information he had held, this kind of as No. 1 hits, in accordance to its coverage toward “criminals.”